This is the third report from RootMetrics on the Boston area. The company scouted the city in June 2011 and June 2012.

Observations since Previous Testing in Boston
For the first time in Boston, AT&T surpassed Verizon to win both the combined and data performance categories.

AT&T launched its LTE network in November 2011. In the visits to Boston since AT&T launched LTE, RootMetrics has found continuous improvement in AT&T's average download and upload speeds. This trend continued, as AT&T's average data speeds more than doubled since the previous round of testing in June 2012.

At 21.0 Mbps, AT&T's LTE network delivered the fastest average download speed RootMetrics has recorded by any carrier across the 75 markets it has tested to date. In addition, AT&T's average upload speed of 10.0 Mbps is among the five fastest average upload speeds recorded by AT&T to date.

Verizon's average download speed decreased slightly from the previous visit in June, moving from 12.2 Mbps to 11.7 Mbps.

All other carriers delivered average data speeds that were comparable to those found in the previous round of testing.

Which Carrier Ranks First in Boston
RootMetrics sorted the test results to show which carrier provided the fastest and most reliable data network, which carrier had the fewest blocked and dropped calls, and which carrier offered the fastest text service.

Data Performance: The RootMetrics data performance tests analyzed how fast each carrier's network was able to download and upload files and how often a customer could successfully connect to a data network.

While Verizon's average data speeds stayed consistent with what RootMetrics found in previous testing, AT&T's average data speed improved considerably. AT&T's average download speed increased from 9.6 Mbps to 21.0 Mbps. Likewise, AT&T's average upload speed increased from 4.4 Mbps to 10.0 Mbps.

Verizon's LTE network delivered the 2nd fastest average download speed in Boston at 11.7 Mbps. Verizon's average upload speed of 6.4 Mbps trailed AT&T, but was markedly faster than any of the other carriers.

T-Mobile's average download speed of 8.2 Mbps placed 3rd.

MetroPCS placed last in all data speed measures.

Boston High Speed Data Comparison and Potential Slowdowns: The standard for what constitutes "4G" speed is debatable, but looking at the consistency with which a carrier offers speeds greater than 5 Mbps gives a good indication of a fast mobile experience. In order to give consumers a more complete picture of how the carriers performed in Boston, RootMetrics compared how often carriers recorded speeds greater than 5 Mbps.

The following details the percentage of tests that each carrier recorded download speeds above 5 Mbps:
oAT&T 87.3%
oVerizon 72.4%
oT-Mobile 66.0%
oSprint 22.7%
oMetroPCS 0.0%
AT&T and Verizon were the only carriers in the Boston area to reach upload speeds above 5 Mbps during testing, doing so 69.6% and 54.2% of the time, respectively.

MetroPCS recorded the greatest percentage of download and upload speeds below 1.5 Mbps, doing so in 94.0% and 96.6% of speed tests, respectively.

Call Performance: RootMetrics analyzed call performance by measuring both dropped calls and blocked calls (the inability to place an outgoing call). AT&T and Verizon delivered statistically equal 1st place call performances and shared a victory in the category.

Text Performance: RootMetrics compared how long it took each carrier to send and receive text messages. AT&T delivered the strongest text performance in Boston and won the category.

Overall: With the strongest overall performance, AT&T ranked 1st in the combined standings. The final results are:
1 - AT&T (113)
2-- Verizon (88)
3 - T-Mobile (71)
4 - Sprint (57)
5 - MetroPCS (53)
The November 2012 Boston RootScore Report is the latest in an ongoing series of performance measurement reports and corresponding RootScore Awards from RootMetrics. The company will continue to publish additional reports for U.S. wireless markets to help consumers make better decisions about the right carrier for his or her individual needs. Review all RootScore reports at http://www.rootmetrics.com.

To evaluate the mobile experience in the Boston area, RootMetrics conducted 65,204 call, data, and text tests during a seven-day period, covering all hours of the day and night, October 18-October 25. The tests, which mimic real-world mobile behavior, were conducted using the RootMetrics CoverageMap app running on Android-based, off-the-shelf consumer smartphones purchased from carrier stores in Las Vegas. To ensure that testing aligns with the consumer experience, and to provide each carrier with the chance to rate as highly as possible, RootMetrics utilizes the most advanced smartphones available at the time of testing. Tests are conducted on activities that consumers perform most often: making phone calls, uploading and downloading files from the Internet, and sending and receiving texts.

Consumers who are interested to see how their network coverage performs compared to other carriers can download the free RootMetrics Cell Phone CoverageMap app for iPhone or Android devices.

Mobile performance varies depending on where people live, work, or otherwise spend time.

The results of this report, combined with the geographical coverage maps at http://www.rootmetrics.com and via the Cell Phone CoverageMap app, allow people to make better decisions about the right carrier for their individual needs.

About RootMetrics(TM)
Based in Bellevue, WA, RootMetrics is an independent company that provides accurate and unbiased mobile performance data to consumers via coverage maps, market-specific RootScore Reports, and a free downloadable app for use on either Android or iOS devices. To ensure RootMetrics's measurements reflect a typical consumer's mobile experience, testing is conducted based on where, when, and how consumers use their devices most often. With data that is accurate and trusted by consumers and carriers, RootMetrics provides tools that empower consumers to find products and services that best fit their unique mobile needs.